Internal combustion engine



July 11, 1933. L. M. wooLsoN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Jan. 9, 1950 L/ J EHI Patented duly lil, i933 raras intacta LIONEL M. `VOOLSON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF BICHIGAN I INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed January 9, 1930. Serial No.' 419,547.

T his invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to fuel injection mechanism for engines of Diesel type.

One method of introducing liquid fuel into compressed air charges in engine cylinders to form a combustible mixture is to employ a device having a nozzle through which fuel is forced by a pump which is actuated in an injection stroke by the release of a spring whichis first compressed by a cam` such in.

jection being known as the loaded spring"7 type.

In engines comprising a plurality of cylinders, such as radial engines, it is desirable to regulate the springs so that a variable i11- jection stroke can be imparted to the pump and thereby regulate the quantity of fuel injected for different engineoperaing conditions, and an object of my invention is toprovide mechanism which can be actuated to simultaneously adjust the plurality of such mechanism to the same degree.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel injection device, of the character set forth, in which there is arranged an adjustable element for controllingl the extent of the spring' force imparted to the pump so that Vthe injection stroke thereof can be thereby regulated.

A further object of the invention is to pro- `vide a non-reversible engine driven mechnism for actuating a fuel injection device.

A still further object of the invention is, to provide a. single control member for regulating the energy imparted to a plurality of fuel injection devices, of the char-acier above set forth, associated in a radial arrangement with a plural cylinder engine.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, which forms a .part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. l is a rear elevational view of an eni gine in which my invention is incorporated,

the rear cover of the casing being broken away to show the invention associated with the caslng;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the sectional cam driving gear showing the non-reversing mechanism associatedtherewith.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, l0 represents generally the crank case of a radial internal combustion engine which includes a peripheral wall ll and' expelled from the cylinders, it being understood that the engine illustrated is of the four-cycle type having pistons reciprocating within the cylinders. Mechanism extends through the housing` 17, associated with each cylinder, for actuating a valve which conltrols the passage extending through the head, and suitable arrangements can be made for actuating such mechanism through mechanism arranged within the chamber between thewalls l2 and 13 and driven from the crank shaft. v

A plurality of fuel injection devices, which include a nozzle portion A and a pump-portion B, are associated preferably one with eachcylinder. The nozzle portions of the injection devices are provided with a flange 18 which is secured against the wall vof the cylinders by studs 19, the nozzle extending through the wall'of the cylinder and communicating with the interior thereof. device includes a barrel 20 having an axial bore extending therethrough and communieating with the nozzle portion A. A pilinger 2l is arranged to reciprocate'within-the barrel bore and in its movement it controls a plurality of fuel inlet passages 22 extending laterally through the barrel and in open communication with a chamber formed by the housing 23 `Which is secured around the The pump port-ion of each v barrel by a nut 24. A fuel feeding manifold formed of sections 25 is arranged to communicate with'the chambers formed by the housings 23 and liquid fuel is moved through such manifold from a source of supply by a low pressure pump (not shown), there being an overflow conduit 26 associated with the uppermost of the housings 23 so that excess liquid fuel in the manifold will be returned to the source of supply. A guide member 27 operates in an enlarged end of the pump barrel and is connected to the plunger 21, there being a retracting coil spring `9 within lthe barrel normally acting to move the plunger in retracted position in which the inlet ports 22 are in open communication with the bore of the barrel and the nozzle. The stroke of the plunger, after closing vthe ports 22, determines the quantity of the fuel charge which will be evacuatedinto the cylinder.l The time required for the effective injection portion of the plunger stroke determines the pressure under which the fuel is forced into the cylinder and likewise the atomization thereof, inasmuch as the fuel must be forced past a spring retained nozzle valve before entering the cylinder. For amore detailed showing of a nozzle for association with the above described pump, reference may bev had to my co-pending application Serial No.

358,899, ied Aprn 29, 1929.

In order to move the plungers in their injection strokes I provide mechanisms which are preferably driven from the crank shaft and as they are similar, a description of one will suffice. A sleeve 28 extends through the peripheral wall of the crank case and a pump actuating member 29 is arranged to reciprocate therein, such member bearing against the guide'27. A link 30 engages with the plunger actuating member 29 and is supported within the crank case by a rock lever 31 which is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 32 extending between and sup ported by the walls 12 and 13. Fixed upon the crank shaft 33, which extends axially through the crank case, is a gear 34 which is arranged to mesh with the gear 35 carried upon the hollow hub 36 to the linner end of which is fixed the gear 37. lThe hub 36 is mounted upon a fixed shaft 8 secured to the casing and extending into the chamber, and a bearing 7 is interposed between the shaft and hub. The cam 38 is arranged to rotate Aupon the crank shaft within the compartment between the walls 12 and 13 and is provided with an internal gear 39 with which the gear 37 is in mesh, and also with four cam lobes 40 arranged to rotate interiorly of and in the same plane with the rocker levers 31.` The hub 36 carries a pair of pivotally mounted dogs 41 which are pressed outwardly by coil springs 42 seated within the hub, and the gear 35 is provided with recesses into which the dogs are moved to provide a positive engagementV when the gear 35 is moving in an anti-clockwise direction, looking at the rear of the engine cas ing.' A plate 70 is secured by bolts 71 to retain the dogs and springs in position in the hollow hub. When the gear 35 moves in a clockwise direction, which may be caused by the reversal of the crank shaft, then the hub 36 is not positively engaged and rotation is not transmitted to the gear 37. The gearing herein described is of a. reduction type and the cam is preferably driven at one-eighth crank shaft speed and in the opposite direction relative thereto. The non-reversing driving connection between the gear 35 and the hub 36 will insure that the pump actuating mechanism will not function if for any reason the engine should reverse.

One end of the rocker levers are associated with the links 30, as heretofore mentioned, and the other end 43 of the rocker levers are provided with a bearing face with which the periphery of the cam engages. In order to transmit /forcefrom the cam to the rocker lever so that the injection stroke of the plungers 21 will be fast, I associate tension'means with each of the rock levers which is built up by the lobes 40 and released as the lobes move from under the rock levers. A housing 44 is secured adjacent the sleeves 28 to the transverse wall 12 by cap screws 45.

Telescopically arranged within the open inner end of the housings are provided piston members 46 having an open end within the housings, a coil spring 47 extending between such telescoping members and normally tending to oppose the action Eof the spring 9 within the pump barrel. In order to control the movement of the plungers, I.

provide an abutment or adjustable cap 48 which is screwed upon the open inner Vend of each housing and is provided with a neck through which the piston 4G extends, the end of the piston extending through the neck being arranged to engage the end 43 of the rock levers. It will be seen that the springs 47 will cause the rock levers to follow the periphery of the cam and such springs exert considerably more tension than the springs within the pump barrels. As the cam is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction the l'obes 4() will pass under the rock levers and will move the rock lever ends 43 outwardly t-hus compressing the springs 47 so that a high tension is thereby built up, and as the lobes move from beneath the rock levers such spring pressure will transmit a force causing the plungers 46` to move the rock levers quickly inwardly of the casing. This quick movement of the rock levers, caused by suddenly releasing the springs 47 will move the links 30 and the guides 29 in a Y A aided.

jectcd into thc cylinders through the nozzles at a high pressure and in a well atomized condition so that starting and idling of a Diesscl type of engine is thereby materially Because of such injection pressure quick vaporization of the liquid fuel in the compressed air charges results, and penetration of the air by the fuel is more readily attained than when there is a slower injection stroke of the plungers 2l.

As before stated, the stroke of the plung- F ers beyond the inlets 22 determines the quantity of the fuel charge injected into the cylinders and, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, the mechanism isset to inject a maXimum fuel charge quantity into the cylinders. it is essential that some adjustment be provided for regulating this fuel charge quantity, and to this end the caps 48 are made adjustable so that the stroke of the pistons 4G in a direction causing` an injection stroke of the pump plungers 21 can be regulated. By screwing the caps 48, the effective movement of the plungers 46 can be adjusted and consequently the degree to which the rock levers Will move the pump plungers in ,their injection strokes can be regulated. j ln order that a single means can be provided for simultaneously adjusting the caps to cause a simultaneous uniform adjustment of the pump plunger strokes l provide a ring member 50 in the chamber between the Walls 12 and 13 Whichis provided with circularly extending slots 51 through which studs 52 extend for retaining the ring against the wall 12 of the crank case. A link 53 is pivotally secured at 54, adjacent each of the fuel devices, and is also pivotally secured to each of the caps 48 as indicated at 55, so that rotation of the ring 50 will move the links 53 therewith and cause the caps 48.150 be screwed axially upon the ends of the casings 4l. The ring member 50 is provided with a rack 56. and the rotation of the ring is caused by turning the shaft 57 upon which is arranged a gear segment 58 which engages the rack 5G, a. link 59 being provided at the end of the control shaft eXteriorly of the casing. Suitable extension means can be attached to the link 59 for controlling the position of the fuel charge control ring 50.

It will be seen that With the mechanism described the fuel charges, regardless of the quantity regulation, are atomized and projected into the compressed air within the j cylinders in a predetermined `manner which is not affected by the speed of rotation of the element driving the actuating mechanism, and in this manner better atoanization of the liquid fuel and penetration thereby of the compressed air charges is produced which is advantageous in starting, and also,

in elicient operation'of an' engine of the Diesel type. Furthermore, the mechanism for producing such results can be readily adjusted through a single manipulation to regulate the quantity of fuel contained in the fuel charges as may be desired Within the range of operation.

`While l have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, which l deem to be new and advantageous and may specifically claim, l do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limited to the exact details of the construction, as it Will be apparent that changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit or'scope of my invention.

`What l claim is: Y

1. n a fuel injection mechanism for Diesel engines, a pump plunger the effective stroke of which determines the fuel charge quantity, a fixed housing, a cap screwed upon one end of the housing, means for adjusting the cap, a piston in the housing having a stem extending through the cap, a, coil spring in the housing exerting pressure against the piston toward the cap, mechanism responsive to the piston movement in this direction causing the plunger to move'- therewith, resilient Ameans for retracting the piston between injection strokes, engine driven means for actuating the mechanism to move the piston in a direction compressing the spring and then suddenly releasing the same.

2. lin a fuel injection mechanism for engines, a pump plunger, the effective strokes of said plunger determining the quantity in the charges delivered, a rock lever pivoted intermediate its ends, push rod mechanism operatively associated between one end of the rockv lever and thepump plunger, spring means associated to normally retract the pump plunger, a piston engaging the other end of the rock lever on the same side with the push rod mechanism, a coil spring associated With the piston and exerting a greater pressure against the rock lever than said spring means, an adjustable abutment controlling the stroke of the piston in the direction of its movement to cause plunger injection strokes, and engine driven cam means in contact With the end of the rock lever with which the piston is associated, said cam means during each revolution moving the rock lever and piston in a direction compressing the coil` spring and suddenly releasing the same.

3. Fuel injection mechanism for lnulticylinder engines comprisinga fuel feeding nozzle and pump plunger device associated with each cylinder, a push rod means for each pumpplunger, a rock lever for each device having one end engaged by the push rod means, resilient meanspressing the push rod means against the rock levers, an engine iis driven cam engaging the rock levers on the opposite side from the push rod means, reciprocable pistons engageable with the rock levers on the opposite end from the push rod 5 means and on the same side therewith, an-

chored spring means pressing the pistons toward the rock levers, adjustable abutment members in the path of the pistons in their reciprocation, said abutments limiting the movement of the pistons in a direction toward the rock levers, and means associated with the abutments for simultaneously adjusting their position to regulate the movement of the pistons transmitted to the rock levers in a direction causing pump plunger injection strokes.

4. Fuel injection mechanism for a radial engine comprising a nozzle and pump plunger device associated with each cylinder to feed liquid fuel intov compressed air therein, push rod means for each pump plunger, a rock lever foreach device having one end engaged -by the push ro'd means, resilient means pressing each push rod 515 means against the associated rock lever, an engine driven cam engaging the rock lever on the opposite side from the push rod means, a reciprocable piston engaging each rock lever on the opposite end from and on chored spring means pressing the pistons toward the rock levers, adjustable abutment members in the path of the piston movement in a direction toward the rock levers,

5 an adjustable 'ring member, and connections sel engines, a pump plunger the effectivev stroke of which determines the fuel charge quantity, a fixed housing having an adjustable abutment end, a coil spring in the housing a reciprocable piston extending through the housing Aabutment and engaged ,by the coil spring, said abutment limiting the movement of the piston away from the housing, mechanism including a rock lever intermediate the plunger and the piston, spring means for retracting the plunger between injection strokes, and engine driven means engaging the rock lever to compress and sud- 55 denly release'the coil spring associated with the piston. l

6. In a fuel injection mechanism for engines, a pump plunger the effective stroke of which determines the fuel charge injected,v

the same side as Ithe push rod means, an-

engine driven means engaging therock lever' for moving the piston to compress the spring and then suddenly releasing the same.

7. In a fuel injection mechanismfor Diesel engines, a pump plunger the effective stroke of which determines the fuel chargequantity, a fixed housing having an adjustable end, a coil spring in the housing, a piston reciprocable through the v.adjustable housing end and pressed by the spring toward said adjustable end, said piston having a reduced portion extending through the adjustable housing end, actuating mechanism intermediate said reduced piston portion and the plunger, resilient means for retracting the plunger between injection strokes, and engine driven means causing the piston to compress the spring and then suddenly release the same, the effective movement of the piston being controlled by the adjustment of the housing end.

8. Fuel injection mechanism for a radial engine comprising a nozzle and pump plunger device associated with each cylinder to feed fuel into compressed air therein, a

push rod means for each pump plunger, af

rock lever for each device having one end engaged by the push rod means, resilient means pressing each push rod means against the associated rock lever, an engine driven cam engaging the rock levers on the opposite side from the push rod means, a reciprocable piston engaging each rock lever on the opposite end from and on the same side as the push rod means, a xed housing adjacent each rock lever, anchored spring means in each housing, an adjustable threaded abutment formingan end wall of each housing, a piston in the housing having a reduced portion extending through the adjustable end wall,the portion of said piston in' the housing being urged against the abutment by the coil spring, an adjustable ring extending ladjacent the adjustable housing 'ments and thereby regulating the piston movement in the-direction of the rock levers. In testimony whereof I atliX my signature.

" LIONEL M. WOOLSON. 

